'The Five' is Number One Show on Television at 5 PM/ET

'Special Report' and 'FOX & Friends' Trounce Broadcast Competition in Major Markets Around the Country

CNN and MSNBC Sink to Historic Lows in the 25-54 Demo Throughout August

NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FOX News Channel (FNC) continued its historic run throughout August finishing as the top network in all of primetime television from the start of summer through Labor Day. Since June 20^th, FNC has averaged 2,432,000 viewers in Monday-Sunday primetime, making it the highest-rated network in all of television leading ABC (2,376,000 viewers), NBC (2,208,000 viewers) and CBS (2,028,000 viewers).

For the month of August, FNC delivered 2.3 million primetime viewers (8-11 PM/ET) and 237,000 in the 25-54 demographic, making it the most-watched television network for the second consecutive month. Across total day, FNC drew 1.4 million viewers and 160,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC commanded 63% of the cable news share with viewers across total day and 65% in primetime, completely dismantling CNN and MSNBC who both lost half of their audience across both primetime and total day compared to August 2024. In fact, this month marked CNN's second lowest-rated month ever with total day 25-54 demo, slumping to just 53,000 viewers. MSNBC had its lowest-rated August in the 25-54 demo across total day (46,000 viewers) and primetime (72,000 viewers) since 1997. FNC nabbed the top 163 cable news telecasts throughout the month and has now commanded the top 1,532 cable news telecasts post-election. FNC was also number one in cable news with Asians, Hispanics and upscale viewers throughout total day during August.

As the number one show on television at 5 PM/ET, The Five secured a staggering 3.5 million viewers and 345,000 in 25-54 demo in August, surpassing CBS' Big Brother (3.2 million viewers) and the debut of ESPN's College Gameday (3,477,000 viewers). At 8 PM/ET Jesse Watters Primetime led all of primetime commanding 3.1 million viewers and 302,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing broadcast shows including NBC's American Ninja Warrior (2.7 million viewers).

FNC's hit late-night program Gutfeld! continued to dominate all of late-night television, securing 2.8 million viewers, 327,000 in the 25-54 demo and 204,000 in the 18-49 demo during August. Gutfeld! once again surpassed CBS' The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2.2 million viewers), NBC's The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.1 million viewers), ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! (989,000 viewers), NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers (710,000 viewers), and Comedy Central's The Daily Show (479,000 viewers).

FNC's Hannity remained dominant at 9 PM/ET with 2.6 million viewers and 271,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading key broadcast shows including ABC's Good Morning America (2.6 million viewers) and Match Game (2.5 million viewers). Additionally, The Ingraham Angle (weeknights, 7 PM/ET) posted 2.5 million viewers and 236,000 in the 25-54 demo, with Laura Ingraham continuing her reign as the highest rated woman in cable news. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night led its timeslot with 1.5 million viewers and 201,000 in the 25-54 demo.

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The network's nightly newscast Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) averaged over 2.6 million viewers and 249,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing to close the gap with the broadcast competition. In August, Special Report led CBS Evening News in 23 top markets across the country including Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington D.C. The show also beat ABC's World News Tonight in eight markets including New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Florida, and St. Louis and outrates NBC's Nightly News in Tampa Bay, Florida, Boston and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

FNC's signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished the month with 1.3 million viewers and 148,000 in the demo and remained the number one cable news program in the mornings with both categories for 54 consecutive months in 25-54 demo, beating CNN and MSNBC combined in viewers per usual. FOX & Friends led CBS Mornings in 21 major markets throughout August including New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Dallas and Cleveland. FOX & Friends also topped ABC's Good Morning America in 15 markets including Orlando, Baltimore and New Orleans and defeated NBC's The Today Show in six markets including New York, Atlanta and Boston during August.

FNC's daytime lineup continued to crush the competition, led by two-hour morning news program America's Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET), which saw 1.8 million viewers and 171,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, notched 1.8 million viewers and 177,000 in the 25-54 demo with Outnumbered at 12PM/ET earning 1.9 million viewers and 202,000 in the demo. America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 1.7 million viewers and 185,000 in the 25-54 demo from 1-3 PM/ET. Martha MacCallum's The Story (weekdays, 3 PM/ET) averaged 1.7 million viewers and 171,000 in the 25-54 demo. Additionally, The Will Cain Show continued to grow the timeslot at 4 PM/ET seeing 2 million viewers and 199,000 in the 25-54 demo. Every single FNC daytime show between 9 AM - 5 PM/ET led NBC's Today Third Hour (1,661,000 viewers), ABC's GMA3 (1,152,000 viewers) and NBC's Today with Jenna & Friends (1,122,000 viewers).

FNC also continued to excel against the competition throughout the weekend for the month, winning every hour with total viewers and 25-54 demo, defeating CNN and MSNBC by double to triple-digits among both categories on both days. On Saturdays, My View with Lara Trump (weekends, 9 PM/ET) was the most watched show in total viewers, drawing 1.3 million viewers. FOX & Friends Weekend (weekends, 6-10 AM/ET) was most-watched in the 25-54 demo with 132,000 viewers. Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) averaged 1.2 million viewers. FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) attracted 1.1 million viewers and 113,000 in the 25-54 demo.

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On Sundays, FNC's Sunday Morning Futures earned the top-rated show of the weekend, garnering 1.6 million viewers and 151,000 with 25-54 demo. Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy was the top show in primetime with 1.5 million viewers and 121,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11 AM/ET, MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz, delivered 1.2 million viewers and 126,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Big Weekend Show nabbed 1.2 million viewers and 120,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX & Friends Weekend took 1.2 million viewers and 127,000 in the 25-54 demo. One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Sunday, 10 PM/ET) nabbed 1.3 million viewers and 118,000 in the 25-54 demo.

AUGUST 2025 VIEWERSHIP & 25-54 DEMO (Monday-Sunday, Live + Same Day):
TOTAL DAY
FNC: 1,448,000 total viewers and 160,000 A25-54 (up 2% with viewers and down 15% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
CNN: 333,000 total viewers and 53,000 A25-54 (down 46% with viewers and 57% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
MSNBC: 502,000 total viewers and 46,000 A25-54 (down 51% with viewers and 62% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)

PRIMETIME (8-11P)
FNC: 2,304,000 total viewers and 237,000 A25-54 (up 1% with viewers and down 18% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
CNN: 444,000 total viewers and 78,000 A25-54 (down 59% with viewers and 68% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
MSNBC: 783,000 total viewers and 72,000 A25-54 (down 57% with viewers and 71% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)

AUGUST RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:

Total Viewers: The Five (3,479,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (3,062,000), Gutfeld! (2,848,000), Hannity (2,612,000), Special Report (2,550,000)

Adults 25-54: The Five (345,000), Gutfeld! (327,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (302,000), Hannity (271,000), Special Report (249,000)

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Month of August 2025 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service and has been the number one network in basic cable for the last nine years and the most-watched television news channel for more than 23 consecutive years, currently attracting nearly 70% of the cable news viewing audience according to Nielsen Media Research. Notably, Nielsen/MRI Fusion has consistently shown FNC to be the network of choice for more Democrat and Independent viewers, with the most politically diverse audience in cable news. A 2024 Pew Research Center study found that more Americans named FNC as their main source for political news than any other network while a 2023 New York Times/Siena College poll found FNC as the leading single source of news for voters across the country. Owned by Fox Corporation, FNC is available in more than 60 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top 10 programs in the genre.

FOX News Media Contact:
Connor Smith: 212-301-3879 or [email protected]

SOURCE Fox News Network, LLC

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